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Description
Filled with challenging vocabulary, interesting exercises, and engaging themes, this colorful spelling series focuses on carefully selected, high-frequency, high-interest words while incorporating relevant Scripture verses, Bible stories, and moral principles. It approaches spelling from three different angles: phonetically, visually, and semantically. In the lower two grades, the program concentrates on phonetic principles, progressing from short vowel constructs to words with long vowels, consonant digraphs, and vowel digraphs. Third grade continues with r-controlled vowels, vowel digraphs, silent letters, and other phonetic clusters. Once basic phonetic constructs are covered, the emphasis switches to the visual-memory technique of spelling. Words that are spelled according to phonetic rule are easy to spell, and ACSI spelling recognizes that "most spelling errors are associated with the over-application of basic phonics principles." Recognition of visual patterns is important in accurate spelling; students should begin to discover spelling errors when words don't "look" right, according to normal visual patterns. In 5th and 6th grades, the emphasis is on understanding semantic relationships, with attention given to affixes and roots (you can see that knowing "sign" is related to "signal" and "signature" would help with its spelling!). Some proofing and editing exercises also appear in the last book of the series. The number of words per lesson begins with 12 in grade one, and progresses to 23 by sixth grade. There are 36 lessons, with about four pages per lesson, estimated to take about 75 minutes per week. Grades one through three use regular manuscript printing (ball and stick), switching to traditional cursive in the fourth grade. Teacher's editions are useful, containing an explanation of the program's philosophy and implementation, reduced student pages, answers to exercises, and online access to downloadable files including blackline masters, transparencies and posters. TEs are available both in a hardcopy version and as an e-book (one-year subscription). (Some of our current stock will still include a CD with these files, but new inventory will have a URL to download these.)
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Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.